CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.---Chattanooga Mocs departing senior Steven Fox (Hendersonville, Tenn.) continues his United States Amateur victory tour this week. Fox, and 155 others, tee off Thursday in the opening round of the U.S. Open at historic Merion Golf Club.

It is Fox’s second major start of the year and seventh overall on the PGA Tour. He has retained his amateur status and will through the British Open for certain. Along with the Masters, Fox has also played the Farmers Insurance Open (Torrey Pines), Arnold Palmer Invitational, Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, Memorial Tournament and FedEx St. Jude Classic.

“He’s gotten his feet wet and gained valuable experience,” UTC Head Coach Mark Guhne stated. “He knows what it takes at this point to compete on this stage. The great thing about Fox is he handles the external pressures so well that he almost seems oblivious to it.

“He’ll need to be good off the tee this week, and I think he is hitting it pretty well right now,” Guhne continued. “But above all else, his play around the greens will dictate if he is playing on the weekend. You don’t have to be an expert to know how important putting is in a USGA event, and that is no different this week.”

Fox certainly has reaped the benefits of his epic U.S. Amateur win. For the golf purist, he could not have picked a better year to claim the title and the rewards. Winning at fabled Cherry Hills Country Club, he lived every golfer’s dream in April playing in the Masters. In July, he gets to play the British Open at Muirfield. How special is Muirfield Golf Links? Jack Nicklaus named his first club Muirfield Village.

Now he plays another historic tract in Merion. With its distinctive wicker baskets atop pins rather than flags, Merion is hosting its 19th USGA event, the most of any club. It is the site of Bobby Jones’ first U.S. Am title in 1924 and his first entry in 1914, at the age of 14. Jones captured the Grand Slam in 1930 (U.S. Am, U.S. Open, British Am, British Open) winning the Amateur here again.

The 1950 U.S. Open at Merion provided its enduring legacy. The incomparable Ben Hogan, just 16 months after a tragic car accident that nearly took his life, battled through adversity and pain. He stood on the 18th fairway of the final round, his 36th hole of the day, holding a one iron in his hand from a distance of more than 200 yards.

His legendary determination and competitiveness shone bright as he struck a mighty blow reaching the green. He two putted for par and a Monday 18-hole playoff date. Hogan defeated Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio over those 18 holes to put an exclamation point on a remarkable week.

Fox is not alone as another former UTC golfer is in the field as a caddie. Gareth Lord is on the bag of Henrik Stenson. Lord played in nine events in the 1994 and 1995 seasons with one top 10.

It is a star-studded group that Fox finds himself in beginning Thursday at 1:36 p.m., and Friday at 8:06 a.m. He is paired with defending champion Webb Simpson and reigning British Open winner Ernie Els. You can follow the champions and the other 153 competitors at the scoring and tee times links above.

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